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Syrian government troops capture historic mosque in Homs

By The Associated Press

Posted:
07/28/2013 12:01:00 AM MDT

DAMASCUS, Syria — Syrian government forces captured a historic mosque in the central city of Homs on Saturday, expelling rebel forces who had been in control of the 13th-century landmark for more than a year.

State-run news agency SANA quoted an unnamed military official as saying troops took control of the Khalid Ibn al-Walid Mosque in the disputed northern neighborhood of Khaldiyeh.

Syrian TV aired a report Saturday night with footage from inside the mosque, showing heavy damage and the tomb's dome knocked out. The footage showed debris strewn on the floor, and a portion of the mosque appeared to have been burned.

The mosque, famous for its nine domes and two minarets, has been a symbol for rebels in the city that is known as "the capital of the revolution."

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported heavy fighting around the mosque, saying the government troops are backed by members of Lebanon's Hezbollah group. The Associated Press